} catch(err) {}

Top seeded girls survive the heat in Miami.

by bahamaderek on Dec.10, 2009, under Kristina Mladenovic, Orange Bowl

It was easy to find No. 1 Kristina Mladenovic at Crandon Park, her match was the one with the biggest crowd. Agents, coaches, fans and other competitors gathered around Court 8 on a sizzling hot afternoon to see the world’s top junior, a 6-foot 16-year-old from France.

Mladenovic already turned pro, and is ranked No. 201 on the WTA Tour. She looked like a pro — speed, powerful groundstrokes, court smarts, stylish dress and long, blonde braid — as she overtook Jessica Ren of Great Britain 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

Mladenovic also had to battle the unseasonably hot temperature, which reached 87 degrees Wednesday in Key Biscayne. The players took a little break between sets to get hydrated.

Mladenovic won the 2009 junior French Open title, and reached the junior Wimbledon final, where she lost to her doubles partner, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand. She has made $82,036 in her first year on tour. She is looking forward to testing her game against more pros in 2010. She admires Monica Seles’ power, Serena Williams’ serve and Elena Dementieva’s baseline game.

Her third-round opponent is Valeria Solovieva, a Russian who trains in Pembroke Pines at the Kozlov Tennis Academy. She beat Duke-bound Mary Clayton of Plantation, 6-4, 6-1.

Madison Keys of Boca Raton, playing up two age groups, took care of Canadian Katarena Paliivets, 6-0, 6-1. Keys, 14, said the heat did not bother her because she is quite used to it, and felt that the match was closer than the score indicated.

Unseeded American Nicole Gibbs upset No. 2 Timea Babos of Hungary 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and unseeded Ellen Tsay knocked off No. 4 Silvia Njiric of Croatia 6-7, 6-3, 7-5.

Related Posts:

:, ,

Comments are closed.


Bloglisting.net - The internets fastest growing blog directory Listed in LS Blogs the Blog Directory and Blog Search Engine Blog Directory Tennis in Depth. at Blogged
Alpha Inventions Ranking